One of the most significant global policy phenomena of our time is that of migration - the movement of people across national borders. While migration affects millions of people a year from all corners of the globe and virtually every nation state, reasoned policy analysis and policy discussion on migration is severely lacking.
Many policy forums consider the topic of migration to be too politically sensitive or unwieldy to tackle. As a result, states are unprepared to deal with recent developments in the area of international migration and generally make decisions related to migration in a closed manner without the benefit of considered dialogue.
No international migration institution or mechanism frames or manages the rights of people who move between countries. At the national level, policies tend to focus overwhelmingly on the legal exclusion of unauthorized migrants, making the need for a policy framework to guide this phenomenon ever more urgent.
There is a clear need to inspire a broader and more informed international and national policy debate on global migration policy.
Latest News
June 1st 2009
Health Worker Migration Global Policy Advisory Council Meeting
At the most recent Health Worker Migration Global Policy Advisory Council meeting, the focus was on the role of the U.S. in the global health worker labor market. Mary Robinson introduced Sen. Tom Daschle to deliver remarks. A Memorandum to President Obama was developed, outlining the Council recommendations for U.S. policy response to the challenges posed by health worker migration, linking U.S. domestic health reform and global health outcomes.
May 18th 2009
Realizing Rights and Commonwealth working to meet the Challenges of Health Worker Migration
Commonwealth Health Ministers meet annually in Geneva on the eve of the World Health Assembly (WHA) to discuss and agree on Commonwealth health priorities. As the largest intergovernmental grouping within the WHA, Commonwealth Health Ministers make a substantial contribution to defining and shaping global health priorities. On May 16th Realizing Rights co-convened, with the Commonweath Secretariat, a Roundtable Discussion on the issue of Health Worker Migration.
Special Reports and Policy Briefs
Migration in an interconnected world: New directions for action [98 pages, 1.06mb]
In December 2003, a Core Group of
States established the Global Commission on International Migration, with a mandate to provide the framework for the formulation of a coherent, comprehensive and global response to the issue of international migration. This report, representing the views of the entire Commission, serves as a policy document for decision-makers in government, international organizations and civil society institutions.
Browse our Migration related Additional Resources to learn more.
